George Pickens didn't wait long to take a swipe at his former team. The wide receiver took the field Tuesday for his first official training camp practice with the Dallas Cowboys and quickly made it clear that things already feel different compared to his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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When asked about his role in the Cowboys' offense, Pickens described it as "a breath of fresh air," and said he's "definitely excited to run better plays."
That wasn't exactly a subtle jab at the Steelers, who spent much of the last two seasons trying to get their passing game off the ground. Pickens was often limited to deep-ball opportunities in Pittsburgh and rarely used across the full route tree.
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He still produced solid numbers — 59 catches for 900 yards and three touchdowns last season — but they came on 103 targets. The year before, it was 63 catches on 106 targets. The production didn't match the volume, a sign of how disjointed the Steelers' passing game often looked.
That figures to change in Dallas, where Pickens will be catching passes from Dak Prescott, by far the most proven quarterback he's worked with. In Pittsburgh, he played with a combination of Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, Mitchell Trubisky, and a past-his-prime Russell Wilson.
Pickens will slot in as the No. 2 wideout behind CeeDee Lamb, a role that should allow him to take advantage of softer coverage and more options underneath. That's something he rarely saw with the Steelers, who also reportedly grew weary of his outbursts and on-field frustrations.
Now with a fresh start and a quarterback with a track record, Pickens sounds ready to show more of what he can do. The question is how he'll respond if the numbers don't immediately follow. New offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer has a reputation for leaning on the run game. Whether Pickens thrives in that structure — or grows frustrated again — remains to be seen.
But for now, the fit feels right. And Pickens isn't shy about saying so.
